Vermont teen arrested after search of car yields 'vegetative matter'

HOOKSETT — Police say an 18-year-old driver from Vermont who looked “nervous” during a traffic stop on northbound I-93 was arrested on a drug charge Saturday when a trooper discovered three pounds of “vegetative matter” in his vehicle.

Derek Stone of Georgia, Vt., was arrested for possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute. After he consented to a search of his vehicle, police found the vegetative matter, believed to be marijuana, a digital scale and another substance that appeared to be hashish, according to a press release from state police.

Police said Stone refused the services of a bail commissioner and was taken to Merrimack County House of Corrections. He will be arraigned in 6th Circuit Court, Concord district, on Monday.

Police said Stone and his two passengers seemed “overly nervous” when stopped for a traffic violation shortly after 4 p.m. on the highway, prompting the trooper to ask to search the vehicle.